10 Juarez police officers charged with torture

Seven of the 10 Juarez police officers charged with torture, abuse of power and theft. Three officers remain at large. (Courtesy of the Chihuahua State Attorney's Office)

Ten Juárez police officers have been charged with torture, abuse of power and theft in connection with the beating of a family and the ransacking of their home last year, officials said.

Seven of the officers, including one woman, were arrested. Three others remain at large, officials said.

The officers are charged with breaking into a home at about 10 p.m, on Dec. 15, 2012, beating a couple and one of their three children.

A press statement from the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office said the family was in their home when they heard a commotion outside, which were the officers. Once the officers made their way inside the home, the statement said, they started beating the couple and a 16-year-old boy while asking them where the weapons, money, jewelry and credit cards were located.

When they failed to respond, the officers placed plastic bags over their heads in an attempt to asphyxiate them, the press release said.

Officials said the officers then ransacked the home and took tools, electronic devices, money, jewelry and Avon products.

While ransacking the home, the officers found two uniforms used in military schools and then told the occupants, "I thought you did not have anything, you pigs."

A that point, one of the officers ordered the arrest of the family and took them to a police station to face charges. Once there, the children were released but the adults were charged with having a weapon, which the family said was planted, officials said.

Advertisement

Officials said the military uniforms were used by two of the children, ages 11 and 13, to attend a military school in Juárez.

Investigators with the state and local prosecutors obtained arrests warrants for the officers, officials said.